Convenient healthy options

Elle Woodworth likes to experiment when it comes to food. “If you’re a guest in my home, you’ll probably get a recipe I’ve never made before. If it doesn’t turn out, that means getting takeout,” said Woodworth, who in May will receive her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from D’Youville College.

But first, she is leading the school’s second annual Food Fest, open to the public, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in College Center Blue Lounge, 320 Porter Ave.

The festival will include nutrition education booths, chili and smoothie vendors, health screenings, and healthy cooking demonstrations that will include some exotic foods. Samples will be given in some cases; other foods will be for sale. Proceeds will go to the Massachusetts Avenue Project.

For Woodworth, 26, a Washington, D.C.-area native, it almost will be like eating at home with her husband, Chad, 28, who is studying to become a physician assistant at D’Youville.

Q. What are the staples of your diet?

Breakfast, I tend to have something filling because I tend to get hungry pretty quickly. So oatmeal or a smoothie with a lot of protein. At lunch, I have soup or a small salad. Any vegetables that are in the refrigerator I throw on there, and any kind of protein. Sometimes beans. Pretty much whatever’s in my fridge goes in a bowl.

Q. That means you shop carefully?

I try to always have a lot of healthy options convenient: unsalted nuts, fresh vegetables, fresh or frozen fruits, healthy grains like brown rice. Something that’s easy and quick, that’s going to be healthy but doesn’t require a lot of forethought on those busy days.

Dinners, I really like to experiment with vegetarian meals. We do eat meat but not much of it. We really enjoy doing fish. Salmon with lemon and spinach or asparagus is one my favorite light meals.